Recreational device



June 13, 1961 o. J. LAMBIOTTE RECREATIONAL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledAug. 28, 1957 FIG.

FIG-.3

INVENTOR.

OSCAR J. LAM BIOTTE FIG. 2

AT TORNE Y June 13, 1961 o. J. LAMBIOTTE 2,988,350

RECREATIONAL DEVICE Filed Aug. 28, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 120 1% FIG. 8

FIG. 9

F I G 7 INVENTOR.

OSCAR J. LAMBIOTT'E ATTORNEY June 13, 1961 Filed Aug. 28, 1957 O. J. LAMBIOTTE RECREATIONAL DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 128 FIG. l2 FIG. I3

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OSCAR J. LAMBIOTTE FIG. l5

ATTORNEY 2,988,360 RECREATIONAL DEVICE Oscar J. Lambiotte, 410 W. 1stSt., Mishawaka, Ind. Filed Aug. 28, 1957, Ser. No. 680,848 3 Claims.(Cl. 273-105) The present invention relates to a recreational device andstructure therefor.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide arecreational device which requires the same muscular motions andcoordination as those used in the games of golf and baseball, but whichcan be played in a limited area either outdoors or indoors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a recreational device ofthe aforesaid type which assists the player in improving his game ofgolf and baseball and which can be played under adverse weatherconditions and either day or night.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a structure forplaying games involving bodily movements similar to those used in golfand baseball, which can be varied in size to satisfy space requirementsfor the individual players.

A further object is to provide a multiple purpose recreational structurewhich can easily be assembled and disassembled without the use of toolsand can readily be folded into a compact bundle for transporting tovarious locations.

Another object is to provide a structure of the aforesaid type which canbe changed in size by adding to or removing from the structure standard,interchangeable sections and which can be shaped into booths andmultiple unit enclosures.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my amusement device and structuretherefor;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in FIGURES 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged top plan view of one of the joints of the frameof my structure;

FIGURE 5 is an elevational view of the joint shown in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of another one of the joints of thestructure frame;

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of one of the members of the joint shown inFIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a side elevational view of the member shown in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the member shown inFIGURES 7 and 8;

FIGURE 10 is an elevational view of another one of the members shown inFIGURES 4, 5 and 6;

FIGURE 11 is a side elevational view of the member shown in FIGURE 10;

FIGURE 12 is a top plan view of the member shown in FIGURES 10 and 11;

FIGURE 13 is an elevational view of a splicing member for the frame ofthe present structure;

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the splicing membershown in FIGURE 13; and

FIGURE 15 is a fragmentary elevational view of the wall construction ofmy structure.

In the illustration of my recreational device and structure numeraldesignates a game panel opposite the front opening of the structure,numerals 22 and 24 side walls joined at their rear edges to the sides ofthe game panel, and 26 the top joined on three sides to the upper edgesof the two sides and the panel.

United States Patent 0 F 2,988,360 Patented June 13, 1961 ice The gamepanel is constructed of canvas or other strong flexible material andcontains a number of holes which serve as targets for the golf or baseball knocked or thrown by the player standing in the front of thestructure or a short distance forward of the front. The panel showncontains a center hole 30, four holes 32, 34, 36 and 38 verticallyarranged on the right side of the center hole and four holes 40, 42, 44and 46 vertically arranged on the left side of the center hole. Theseholes are so spaced vertically that they serve as a range indicator tothe player which is particularly useful when the device is being used asa practice court for golf or baseball. The holes are all connected witha ball return hole 48 by chutes 50, 52 and 54 formed of the samematerial as the panel and sewed or otherwise securely joined to the backof the panel as shown in FIGURE 3. In order to indicate whether the ballhits one of the target holes, a paper target may be placed over eachhole and in addition to this or as an alternative a metal hell or gongmay be hung on suitable fixtures behind each target hole to signal eachhit to the player. After a hit is made through one of the target holes,the ball drops down through the respective chute and rolls through hole48 into the playing area.

Panel 20 is supported by a rigid frame consisting of four tubularmembers 56, 58, 60 and 62, preferably of aluminum or steel, joinedtogether at their four corners. The panel is laced to the tubularmembers by a cord 64 looped through grommets 66 along the edges of thepanel and looped around the tubular members in the manner shown inFIGURE 15. The grommets, which are of metal or plastic, are spaced atsuitable intervals along the sides of the panel and are sewed orotherwise attached to the panel edges which have preferably been doubledover and sewed to give added strength to the panel where the grommetsare attached. When the structure is being used as an open air gamedevice a border of netting 70 is preferably inserted between. the paneland the tubular member so that the air can pass freely through thestructure. This netting is sewed along its inner edge to the edge of thepanels and is laced at its outer edge to the adjacent tubular member, asseen in FIGURE 15. To assist in retaining the panel taut and to preventit from sagging from repeated blows from the ball, a plurality ofresilient members urge the panel outwardly. FIGURE 15 shows a rubberstrip 72 secured to the edge of the panel and fastened to member 58 by ametal hook 73 secured to the end of the strip. These strips are placedat the corners and along the sides of the panel. When the structure isbeing used as a booth or the like where free circulation of air is notdesired, the netting can be omitted and the panel pulled tight againstthe tubular member. When the canvas is laced tight against the tubularmembers the corner is closed and elfectively keeps out the rain andwind.

The two sides 22 and 24 and top 26 are constructed in the same manner aspanel 20, i.e. they each consist of a panel of canvas or other suitablematerial laced to tubular members either with the edges pulled tightagainst the members or with the edges spaced from the members and astrip of netting inserted between the panel and the adjacent member.Side 22 is shown composed of a panel 75 of a vertically striped canvasmaterial supported by tubular member 58, which also supports game panel20, and by members 74, 76 and 78. Side 24 which is composed of the samematerial as side 22 consists of a panel 80 supported by tubular members60, 82, 84 and 86. The two side walls are held rigidly in position by aconnecting member 88 extending across the upper front of the structureand joined to the upper front corners of the side walls. The topconsisting of a panel 90 and constructed in the same manner as the sideWalls is supported by tubular members 56, 7'4, 88 and 82. It is seenthat since the game panel 20 and panels 75, 80 and 99 are laced totubular members 56, 58 and 60 a continuous structure is created betweenthe panels which forms an effective stop for the balls used in the gamesand, if the panels are drawn tightly against the tubular members withoutthe netting, an enclosure which will effectively keep out the rain andwind is formed.

The tubular members are joined together to form a rigid structure by thejoints shown in FIGURES 4 through 12. The joint shown in FIGURES 4 andfor joining members 74, 76 and 88 consists of couplings 92,- 94 and 96held securely together by a bolt 99 extending through matching holes inthe ends of the couplings. Each coupling has a shank 98 with a reduceddiameter portion which slips into the end of the respective tubularmember and is held therein by a bolt 102 extending through aligned holesin the tubular member and shank. Both bolts 99' and 102 are secured inplace by winged nuts 14M and 106, respectively. When the presentstructure is disassembled for moving it is necessary to remove only bolt99 from this joint and all three members 74-, 76 and 88 aredisconnected. It is not necessary to remove bolt 102 when the structureis being moved. The joint shown in FIGURES 6 through 9 is employed inconnecting tubular members 56, 58 and 74 or members 56, 60 and 82 andconsists of couplings 106, 108 and .110 held together by a bolt andwinged nut 112 and 114. Each of these couplings has a shank 118' with areduced diameter portion 120 for slipping into the ends of the tubularmember where they are held by bolt 122 and winged not 124. The detailsof the three couplings are clearly shown in FIGURES 7 through 12 andthese couplings like the ones comprising the joint in FIGURE 4 have flatsided extensions 126 and 128 which ar'e'shaped to the angle desired forthe tubular members.

The tubular members are standard parts and are cut to construct certainsized structures. However, it is sometimes desirable to enlarge thestructure, and in order to avoid having to furnish all the variouslengths which might be needed, the extension joint shown in FIGURES 13and 14 is employed instead. The construction and use of this type ofjoint are similar to those in the other joints, i.e. it consists of aflat portion 129 having a hole 13% therein for receiving a bolt toattach a coupling such as the one shown in FIGURES l0, l1 and 12, andshanks 132 for slipping into the ends of the tubular members where theyare held by bolts inserted through holes 1 34:

One of the advantages of the present structure is its versatility. Itcan be used as" a cabin, tent, sales booth, cabaiia, or bath house withshowers and lighting equip ment, and these units can be used eitheralone or as companion cabins in conjunction with the game featurespreviously described. Further, it can be used to' form multiple unitstructures all connected to form a rigid construction. the multiple unitstructures, a common member, such as upright members 76 or 84, is usedas a support for both units and a second member 74 or 82 is connected tothe upright member. A number of different variations in the structureare possible with the present coupling and tubular member construction.In using the structure as a cabana, cabin or tent, a draw curtain 140 ispreferably used to close the front, and in using it as a sales booth oramusement device a valance 1'42 and panel 144 thereabove may be used forthe name of the game or for advertisement. The structure is alsosufficiently strong to support other game devices on the front, such asa basket ball practice goal and backboard mounted on the frame at thecorners.

When the structure is to be used as a cabafia, bath house, tent or cabina panel similar to panels 22 and 24 may be placed across the front andsecured tothe tubular members in the manner shown in FIGURE In joiningthe tubular members to form and flap doors" of conventionalconstruction, such as illustrated at number 146 in FIGURE 2, may beprovided in one or more of the panels. For these uses the game panelwould normally be replaced by a panel similar to panels 75 and 80.

While a number of modifications and variations have been mentioned,various other changes may be made without departing from the scope ofthe present invention.

I claim:

1. A recreational device, comprising a generally rectangular frame oftubular members demountably joined together at their ends, a panel ofcanvas supported by said frame having a plurality of holes forming goalsfor receiving balls driven or thrown by a player, means of canvassecured to the back side of said panel forming channels for recoveringsaid balls and delivering them to a discharge hole on the front side ofsaid panel, netting material forming a border on said panel and attachedto said frame, a plurality of resilient means connecting said panel tosaid frame, a generally rectangular frame of tubular members demountablyjoined together attached to" and extending forward from said firstmentioned frame, the forward ends of said frames being spaced from oneanother to form an open front for said structure, a panel of canvas ineach of said forward extending frames supported by said tubular members,netting material forming a border on said last mentioned panels andattached to the respective forward extending frames, a tubular memberdemountably joined to the upper front corners of said forwardlyextending frames to hold them in rigid spaced relation, a top panel ofcanvas supported by the upper tubular member of each frame, nettingmaterial forming a border on said top panel and attached to said uppertubular members, a draw curtain across the opening between said lastmentioned panels under said last mentioned tubular member, and a valancesupported by said last mentioned tubular member and a panel disposedthereabove. V

2. A recreational device, comprising a generally rectangular frame oftubular members demountably joined together at their ends, a panel offlexible material supported by said frame and having a plurality ofholes forming goals for receiving balls driven or thrown by a player,means of flexible material secured to the back side of said panelforming channels for recovering said balls and delivering'them to adischarge hole on the front side of said panel, netting material forminga border on said panel and attached to said frame, a frame of tubular.members demountably joined together attached to and extending" forwardfrom said first mentioned frame, a panel of flexible material in each ofsaid forward extending fr'ames supported by said tubular members,netting material forming a border on said last mentioned panels andattached to the respective forward extending frames, a tubular memberdemountably joined to the upper front corners of said forwardlyextending frames to hold them in rigid spaced relation, a top panel offlexible material supported by the upper tubular member of each frame,netting material forming a border on said top panel and attached to saidupper tubular members, a draw curtain across the opening between saidlast mentioned panels under said last mentioned tubular member, and avalance supported by said last mentioned tubular member and a paneldisposed thereabove. I

3. A recreational device, comprising a generally rectangular frame oftubular members demountably joined together at their ends, a panel offlexible material supported by said frame and having a plurality ofholes forming goals for receiving balls driven or thrown by aplayer,1means of flexible material secured to the back side of saidpanel forming channels for recovering said balls and delivering them to"a discharge hole on the front side of said panel, netting materialforming a borderon said'panel and attached to said frame, a frame'oftubular members demountably joined together attached to and extendingforward from said first mentioned frame, a panel of flexible material ineach of said forward extending frames supported by said tubular members,netting material forming a border on said last mentioned panels andattached to the respective forward extending frames, a tubular memberdemountably joined to the upper front corners of said forwardlyextending frames to hold them in rigid spaced relation, a top panel offlexible material supported by the upper tubular member of each frame,and netting material forming a border on said top panel and attached tosaid upper tubular membeta.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

